As the first of February settled in like a freezing blanket over the city, Zack found himself back at work. Paulina's worried gaze fell upon him as she examined his chest, making sure his ribs were healed. The dim lighting lent an air of intimacy in her back office, but their conversation was anything but.
"Your ribs seem to be back in place, Zack," Paulina said, her voice barely above a whisper. "But I need to tell you something more troublesome than Ethel's current behavior."
Zack's blue eyes flickered with confusion. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice equally hushed.
Paulina shook her head and sighed. She leaned in closer, her words urgent. "Jessica brought me the body of an exorcist, with wounds that I have never seen before. Now I remember you saying an invisible creature attacked Deb at the house, what are the chances two mysterious creatures show up in Waterloo at the same time?"
"Are you saying that whatever killed the exorcist is the creature who attacked Deb?" Zack began to feel fear creep up inside him.
"That is my current theory yes," Paulina confirmed
Before Zack could ask any more questions, the camera picked up Jessica and Pablo heading toward the back office. Paulina's eyes widened in alarm. "Quick, out the back door!" she urged, giving Zack a gentle shove.
As Zack slipped away, he couldn't help but linger for a moment, eavesdropping on the unfolding conversation.
"Paulina," Pablo greeted her coolly, his blue eyes glinting like ice. "I thought you had retired."
"I thought the exorcists operated by a code," Paulina shot back, her tone suggesting that she knew things had changed.
Jessica, her brown eyes narrowed, stepped forward. "We need to know what killed Pete. Please tell me you found something."
"Ah, yes," Paulina replied, her expression grave. "It seems our mystery creature left its mark—quite literally. The bite on Pete's neck was the cause of death; a potent venom coursed through his veins." She paused, her voice lowering further. "The deep gashes across his chest and abdomen, however...those were inflicted after he had already died."
"Post-mortem wounds?" Jessica asked, her brow furrowing.
"Indeed. That is what should concern you most. Whatever this thing is, it was exploring with Pete, testing its abilities," Paulina mused, her voice tinged with bitterness.
"How exactly does this venom work?" Pablo asked, clearly intrigued by this new creature development.
"Paralysis comes first," Paulina said, in a hushed voice. "Then massive organ failure and internal bleeding follow in quick succession." She shuddered, almost as if she could feel the venom coursing through her veins. "In my years of experience, I have never seen anything quite like it."
Jessica's eyes widened in alarm. "So, what you're saying is that this creature is fast, powerful, and can render its victims dead within seconds?"
"Exactly," Paulina affirmed. "We should be very afraid. In the natural world, predators with venom use it to catch and eat their prey. But the creature that killed Pete didn't consume him—it only wanted to kill. I believe that may be its sole purpose."
Zack's heart raced as he absorbed this new information. He wanted to know more about the invisible assailant but knew the longer he stayed the more likely it was he would be caught. He snuck away from the scene, knowing that time was of the essence.
As he made his way through the shadows, Zack texted Deb and Rob about what he had learned. He knew something supernatural had killed in Waterloo and that meant it was to them to stop it, Zack welcomed the distraction from Ethel and a war with the exorcists.
-----
Rob read Zack's text as he walked into Pisa Pizzeria, he reached the counter and switched over to his order on his phone. He squinted at the bill, convinced that he was being overcharged. Maria, the chef, eyed him sternly from behind the counter.
"Listen, I think there's been some sort of mistake," Rob began, trying to keep his voice level. "There is a delivery charge on here but—"
"Sshhh, I am not a computer specialist, I make pizza and if you want yours, then sit and be quiet," Maria warned, her eyes flashing dangerously.
Rob swallowed hard and retreated to a chair by the door, not noticing that it had opened on its own. His gaze fell upon a picture hanging on the wall: Maria, clad in a University of Waterloo cheerleader uniform, beaming proudly. He couldn't help but chuckle at the sight, pulling out his phone to text Zack about his encounter with the feisty chef. Before he could hit 'send', an invisible force gripped his hands and clamped down on his mouth. Panic surged through him as his phone clattered to the floor, his hands bound tightly together, and tape secured over his mouth. The unseen creature had rendered him helpless, and now it was moving on to its true target.
Rob's mind raced, he knew that he needed to warn Maria, but how? His voice was muffled behind the tape, and his hands were bound tight as steel. Desperation clawed at Rob, he tried to pull himself from his chair prison. His eyes scanned the shop but there was no sign of the attacker, he needed to find where it was, but was it even possible?
" Maria!" he tried to shout, but it came out as a feeble moan.
Hearing the commotion, Maria her eyes fell on the bond Rob. Before she could make a move the creature was on her. Bite marks appeared on her throat, and she screamed in agony, blood pouring from the wounds. Rob strained against his bindings, managing only to topple the chair over, his body crashing painfully to the floor.
The invisible creature lifted Maria's limp form effortlessly, carrying her towards the pizza oven. Rob's fingers fumbled for his phone, struggling to dial 911 while dread settled like a heavy stone in his gut. As the oven door slammed shut, the creature fled into the night, leaving no sign it even existed.
-----
Deb checked her text from Zack as her breath fogged up the car window, revealing "9 PM" hastily scrawled across the glass. She glanced at the clock, she was excited to meet Zack at their secret spot. But when she looked back up, Pablo stood outside her car, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Hey, Deb," Pablo said smoothly, leaning against the car door. "We need to talk."
"Can't it wait?" Deb asked, irritation creeping into her voice as she checked the time once more. "I have somewhere to be."
"It can't wait, come now." His eyes bore into hers, unyielding.
Meanwhile, Zack waited anxiously under the ancient elm tree, glancing at his phone to check the time: 09:00 pm. He knew something wasn't right, Deb was never late before.
"Where are you, Deb?" he muttered under his breath, worry gnawing at his insides. He went to text her but his phone buzzed with an SOS from Rob, his meeting with Deb would have to wait.
-----
Deb couldn't stop thinking of Zack as she and Pablo stood in the dimly lit courtyard of St. Jerome's, the shadows of the ancient stone walls seeming to close in on them. The air was thick with tension as Deb tried to maintain her composure, as she tried to figure out what was so important.
"Before we continue, I need to tell you that I have been impressed by your training. Keep this up and you will earn your demonology book in no time, the prize of all exorcists, our shared collection of knowledge of the supernatural world," Pablo said but then started shaking, Deb watched as the man desperately fumbled for something in his pocket. As he did so, a leather-bound book slipped out and fell to the ground with a soft thud. Deb quickly picked it up and handed it back to him.
"Thanks," he mumbled, a flicker of vulnerability crossing his face. "I'd be lost without this." Clutching the book to his chest like a lifeline, Pablo swallowed a handful of pills dry. "I take my health very seriously, you know."
"So this Demonology book is what you wanted to talk to me about?" Deb asked, her impatience barely concealed.
"No," Pablo replied, fixing her with an intense gaze. "This is about trust, Deb. You need to trust your fellow exorcists." He paused, then added defensively, "Even Abby. She had her reasons for setting that fire, and she got the job done."Deb bristled at the mention of Ethel's family but held her tongue. Pablo continued, "You remind me of her, you know. Fierce, determined... but sometimes blind to the bigger picture. There will come a time when you'll have to question the trust of those closest to you. But remember, the one trust you never question is that of the church."
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
"Can I trust you, Deb?" Pablo asked, his eyes searching hers for any sign of doubt.
"Y-yeah," she stammered, caught off guard by the intensity of his question.
"Speak with conviction!" he barked, his voice echoing through the courtyard. "Yes or no?"
"Yes," Deb answered firmly, her dark eyes meeting his without flinching.
"Good," Pablo said, seemingly satisfied with her response. "Now, prove it to me."
-----
Meanwhile, at the pizzeria, Rob sat opposite Lindsay, who was watching him with a mixture of concern and suspicion. The lingering scent of charred flesh permeated the air, making it difficult for Rob to breathe.
"Tell me again what happened to Maria," she prompted, her blue eyes searching his face for any hint of deception.
"I... I walked in and found her in the oven," Rob lied, trying to keep his voice steady. "It was horrifying."
"Did you see anyone?" Lindsay pressed, leaning in closer. "Are you afraid they'll come after you if you tell the truth?"
Rob hesitated, then shook his head. "No, I didn't see anyone. I swear."
Lindsay sighed. "We're going to have to ask you more questions later. Do you want to get something to eat before we continue?"
"No," Rob replied, his stomach churning at the thought. "I've lost my appetite." Rob hoped Zack would arrive soon, he needed to tell him the invisible creature had killed again.
-----
Underneath the gnarled branches of ancient trees, Deb approached the designated meeting spot in the woods. She knew she was late but hoped Zack would still be there, she wanted to tell him all about Pablo's weird confrontation. Instead of Zack, she found a message etched into the bark of a nearby tree. The words, "COULDN'T WAIT MISSED U" were carved viciously, as if by claws.
"Damn it," she muttered under her breath, frustration clear in her furrowed brow. She really needed to vent and Zack was the only one she could share this with. But she trusted Zack, whatever he was dealing with must have been important.
At the pizzeria, the grim scent of tragedy still hung in the air. Zack arrived to pick up Rob, who appeared shaken and pale. As they walked out of the restaurant together, Rob hesitated before speaking."Zack, it was that invisible creature," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The creature... It's clearly targeting these people. It could have killed me but it just tied me up and left me, luckily I was able to wiggle free before the police arrived."
"Go on," Zack urged, concern etching itself onto his face as he listened intently.
Rob rubbed his temples, trying to recall the details. "It made everything feel cold and was icy to the touch. And there was this smell... almost like cologne, but I just can't place it." He sighed heavily, frustrated with himself. "I wish I could remember more."
Zack placed a reassuring hand on Rob's shoulder. "Don't worry, you did really well. I am sure we can use this info to help catch this thing," he said, determination shining in his blue eyes.
"Sometimes, I wonder if we're in over our heads," Rob admitted, breaking the silence between them.
"Me too," Zack agreed solemnly.
-----
The morning sunlight filtered through the dusty blinds of Ethel's apartment. The sound of heavy breathing and shuffling feet filled the air as John lunged at Ethel, his face set with determination. With a graceful movement, she sidestepped his advance, tossing him aside with an ease that belied her slender frame.
"John? That's all you've got?" Ethel taunted, her brown eyes flashing with amusement.
Kristian sat on the stairs, watching the scene unfold with keen interest. He knew the importance of learning from Ethel, but he couldn't help feeling a twinge of fear at the display of her power.
"Again!" Ethel commanded, and John charged once more, only to be effortlessly rebuffed.
"Enough," she sighed, just as Olivia leaped forward, attempting to catch Ethel off guard. But with one hand, Ethel used Olivia's own momentum against her and sent her crashing to the floor.
"Is that all?" Ethel questioned, her voice dripping with disappointment. "Your attacks are undisciplined and obvious. Give me something unpredictable."
Olivia's eyes narrowed as she sprang up, straddling Ethel and planting a passionate kiss on her lips. The room fell silent, as Ethel grabbed the girl and threw her into the bookshelf.
"Never do that again," Ethel hissed. "It's not as clever as you think besides I have someone else in mind for you."
John, now nursing a bruised ego and some minor injuries, grumbled, "You're supposed to be teaching us how to fight, not using us as punching bags."
"Wrong," Ethel corrected sharply. "I'm teaching you how to survive. The exorcists want us dead, and we have to be ready. Rushing into a fight isn't the way to survive a war."
As Ethel's words sunk in, each member of her convenant grew more resolute in their commitment to learn from her.
-----
Across town, Ahmed groaned as his mother roused him from his troubled sleep. "Get up, you'll be late for your counseling session at the university," she warned.
"Five more minutes..." he mumbled, burying himself beneath the covers.
"Ahmed!" his mother scolded, yanking back the duvet. Both gasped in surprise at the sight of dirt covering the sheets. Ahmed's hands were caked with soil, and on the dresser lay several lilies, ripped out by the roots.
"Wh-what happened?" Ahmed stammered, his heart pounding with fear and confusion. "I don't remember anything..."
His mother looked at him with concern. "It's ok, the doctor said sleepwalking could be a side effect of the medication." Ahmed wasn't sure medication explained the gardening but decided that it had to be the case. He quickly washed up and left for school.
Ahmed was lost in thought as he entered the counseling office. The dirt-streaked lilies from that morning haunted him, where had he found lilies in the winter? He tried to shake off his unease as he took a seat in the waiting area outside the counselor's office.
"Rough night?" asked the guy next to him, smirking as he noticed Ahmed's disheveled appearance. "Or is this just your regular look?"
"None of your business," Ahmed snapped, his nerves on edge. "I have an acute phobia of people prying into my personal life."
"Ouch, touchy!" the boy replied, raising his hands in mock surrender. "I was just trying to make conversation with a guy I think is cute."
Before Ahmed could formulate a retort, the counselor's door opened and Amed's name was called, swallowing him into its depths and leaving the other student behind.
In the Guidance Counselor's office, Ahmed fidgeted in his chair, feeling the weight of Ms. McLeod's questioning gaze. He couldn't help but let curiosity get the better of him as he eyed the small flags in her pen cup. "So, you're Scottish?"
Ms. McLeod raised an eyebrow, amused by the question. "Aye, that I am. And before you ask more about my interior decorating choices, Those framed certificates are my Master's in Behavioral Psychology and over 300 hours of fieldwork under my belt." She pointed to the frames hanging behind her.
Ahmed nodded, impressed but still uneasy. He had never been to therapy and didn't really know where to start. He didn't want to tell her about the weird dreams or the sleepwalking so he settled on something safe, "My friends have been supportive since I was attacked," he began, his voice barely above a whisper. "They are really trying to help me process it all the best they can."
"And yet," he continued, quoting Gluttony without realizing it, "sometimes the people closest to you can be the ones holding you back the most."
Ms. McLeod's eyes sharpened at the statement, sensing there was more to it than mere teenage angst. "Where did you hear that, Ahmed?"
"Uh, I'm not sure," he admitted, a puzzled look crossing his face. "Maybe I heard it in a lecture."
-----
Meanwhile, in the hallway, Rob found Zack pacing back and forth, his brow furrowed in deep thought. As Rob approached, Zack looked up, his blue eyes searching for answers.
"Zack," Rob began, his voice cracking with emotion. "I'm so sorry. I'm trying, I am. This distance between us is only temporary. We'll get through this together, I know we will because... because I love you."
Tears welled up in Rob's eyes as he broke down, shoulders shaking as he laughed. Zack rolled his eyes at Rob's attempt to play messenger.
"Keep it together," Zack said, placing a hand on Rob's shoulder. "I need you to send another message to Deb."
Rob paused, wiping away his tears. "Yeah, I can't be the messenger between you two anymore. It's too much, can't I just forward you each other's texts."
"Rob," Zack said firmly, gripping his friend's shoulder. "You're the only one both of us can trust right now. We need you."
Rob looked into Zack's eyes, seeing the desperation. He took a deep breath and nodded, accepting his role as the link between his two closest friends.
"Alright," he agreed, though he had wished he had spent some more time focusing on his cardio before this. "I'll do it for now. But we seriously need to figure out a better way of doing this."
"Oh shit, I almost forgot. Deb said there's a book -" Rob hesitated for a moment, searching for the right word, "- that the exorcists have. It contains details on all the creatures they've encountered."
"Like some kind of demonology?" Zack suggested, his eyes narrowing with interest.
"Exactly," Rob confirmed, nodding. "I think we need to get our hands on that book if we want to figure out what that invisible creature is."
"How exactly are we going to get our hands on this book though, we can't exactly ask the exorcists to give us a copy." Zack wondered aloud.
"We will have to get Deb to do it," Rob declared, he knew the risks but they didn't have anyone else on the inside. "She's the only one who could get it without raising the alarm."
"You're right," Zack replied, but it was clear he didn't like the idea of putting Deb in possible danger. "I am sure she can do it."
-----
The air in the Warrior's weight room was thick with the smell of sweat and damp towels. Boon stood by Leona's bench, the memory card from Sarah's damaged camera gripped tightly between his fingers. He glanced around nervously before approaching her.
"Hey, Leona," he said, trying to sound casual. "I have a favor to ask."
Leona looked up from her bench, raising an eyebrow. "Yeah? The last time you asked me for a favor you broke Sarah's camera."
Boon hesitated, shifting his weight from one foot to the other. "I know and I still owe her for that. This time I promise it doesn't involve you asking your friends for something for me, I just need you to increase the resolution on this video," he said, holding up the memory card. "It's... well, it's me in bed."
Leona's eyes widened, and she let out a short laugh. "Thanks but no thanks, we broke up remember?" she laughed, amusement evident in her voice.
"Trust me, it's not that kind of video," Boon replied, his face flushing. "Your camera broke before I could look at the video. I finally figured out how to upload it to my computer, but I think there might be corruption. It is pretty fuzzy."
Leona studied him for a moment, intrigued by the mystery in his words. "Alright, give it here," she said, extending her hand. As their fingers brushed during the exchange, Boon felt an unexpected jolt of electricity pass between them. He tried to shake off the feeling, focusing on the task at hand.
"Thanks," he said, watching as Leona placed the card into her bag.
"Not a problem, I let you know as soon as I find anything." She said returning to her workout. "Do you mind spotting me?" Boon nodded and as he helped her with her set he wondered if there was still a chance for them to fix things between them.